Cozumel  Mexico

The Conquistadors first saw Mexico from the shores of Cozumel while searching for gold. Today, visitors to the island continue to seek out gold and silver jewelry in the shops of San Miguel. Plus, the waters around Cozumel's shelter coral reefs make this one of the best snorkeling areas in the world.

With clear sapphire-colored water and an abundance of coral reefs and exotic tropical fish, it's a snorkeler's dream, and therefore, one of the world's premier snorkeling destinations. It's simply the perfect place to see what's under the sea whether you're a novice or an expert.

Cozumel isn’t as flashy as its neighbor Cancun. And that’s part of its charm. Mexico’s largest island (33 mi/53 km long and 8 mi/13 km wide) offers a pleasant mix of activities. You can shop and dine in San Miguel, a traditional Mexican town built around a large plaza. You can head for the beach to lounge and swim, while the more adventurous can explore Maya ruins or dive around the reefs.

Most cruise-ship passengers don’t venture far outside San Miguel, the island’s only city, which has about 60,000 people. The town’s plaza, Plaza del Sol, is surrounded by dozens of shops and sidewalk cafes. You could easily spend a few hours browsing through the stores, sipping a cold drink beneath the bright orange blooms of the poinciana trees and people watching. The side streets off the plaza are closed to auto traffic and packed with more shops and eateries. To see a bit of the waterfront, stroll along San Miguel’s main street (Avenida Melgar, also known as the malecon), which runs north and south for 14 blocks. You can walk it in half an hour.

Outside of San Miguel, there’s almost no development but plenty of opportunities to experience solitude. Cozumel’s one highway is a narrow paved road that runs south from San Miguel and circles the southern tip of the island before turning north along the eastern shore. At a point opposite San Miguel, the road turns west and crosses the island back into San Miguel.

Maya Ruins—Cozumel’s ruins aren’t much to look at compared with those at Tulum, Coba and Chichen Itza on the mainland. But if archaeology is your interest or if you’re just up for a jungle adventure, you may want to see them anyway. The best-preserved ruins are at San Gervasio, which is about 7 mi/11 km northeast of San Miguel in the midst of dense jungle. You can reach this small grouping of temples by taking an unpaved side road o ff Carretera Transversal. Knowledgeable guides wait at the entrance and charge about US$12 an hour for a tour. (Open daily 9 am-5 pm; admission US$4.)

Real Estate Info

With all the activities and the very laid back pace of Cozumel, the real estate Cozumel offers many opportunities for the astute real estate investor.

The real estate market of Cozumel is influenced principally by the fact that there is a limited inventory. The area is approximately 5 miles wide, and 15 miles long. Our Island is a 40 minute ferry ride from Playa del Carmen which is south of Cancun approximately 40 minutes. We do not have mountains and the Cozumel beaches on the east side are incredibly unforgettable. The west side of the island has waters that are famous world wide with scuba divers swearing to its beauty. Temperatures run from 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter up to 105 Fahrenheit in the summer.

Cozumel vacation homes are usually less expensive for more space than on the mainland, however Cozumel real estate is very active. Average price ranges for Cozumel homes are between $180,000 usd to $450,000 US$, currently and this depends on size and neighborhood.

Cozumel beachfront homes are in high demand and in limited supply, thereby giving rise to their higher prices. Average prices for a beach front residence Cozumel is between $800,000 - $2 million US dollars.

Cozumel real estate development Cozumel condos have been more limited over time. Buying a condo in Cozumel means bigger interior spaces as well lower prices.

Even Cozumel beachfront condos are in limited supply. All of the beachfront condos Cozumel are built mainly the along the north end of the island. They are usually newer, with more luxurious finishes, making it a very good real estate investment in Cozumel, especially due to the limited supply. Many expats have made the choice to retire in Cozumel giving rise to a very strong expat retirement community.